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Show THE "TITANIC" SUITS When the great steamship Titanic I was lost off the banks of Newfoundland, Newfound-land, It was predicted that there would J be heavy suits for damages, for It was felt that the White Star company wag (justly liable for great penalties by reason of Its admitted failure to provide pro-vide the Titanic with tho necessary 6afet appliances, and by .reason of tho recklessness with which the ves-i ves-i eel was thrown upon the ice But ' presently it became evident that the p mount of damages to be collected might be limited to the salvaged life boats and other items of salvage, and be confined to something like $9:1.000 all told. A concise statement of the situation Is thus given editorially by the Springfield (Mass) Republican: 'An absurd legal Impasse Is threat, ened In tho Titanic suits. The attorney attor-ney for Mrs. Natsch, who lost her husband by tho wreck, has been declared de-clared In contempt for bringing suit before the federal district court has passed on the question whether the company's liability is to be limited to tne salvaged lifeboats, etc., a matter of 593,000, or Is to be unlimited. But the attorney defends himself for vlo- HI gating the restricting order of the HI federal judge by saying that under HI i New York law a suit to recover dam- HI I ages for death must be instituted HI Within twelve months, while the ques- HI tion of the limitation of liability HI might draw on for years. It would be HI ., pretty outcome for justice if suits HI should be forbidden by injunction till fill the year was up and then rejected III because brought too late It is to be i hoped that legal wits will find a way fill to cut the knot." El That is surely a legal twist which U hardly affords any measure of pride fllH cither tu lawyers or to courts. The lljH outcome of it all will be watched with 1 H the Keenest Interest by the people of nH tho world. If it should turn out that II H the aggregate limitation of damages n H is as stated, then there must neces. ) H sarily be an active propaganda to I! change tho rule of law or the practice f! H of courts, or whatever it is that In- ijH tereferes with fair collection of dam- j H ages In such a case. IlH |